The business of tech stories our desk judged worth your time, written so anyone can follow them.
A months-old startup is paying $200,000 for each answer to five open materials science problems, a test of whether AI can crack science that could reach your devices.
Read more: A young startup offers $1 million to anyone who solves five science puzzlesDropbox plans to buy AI storage startup Tigris for $350 million, its biggest deal ever, and says more AI is coming to the files you already keep there.
Read more: Dropbox to buy data storage startup Tigris for $350 millionConcentrix released an AI app that moves call centers from older systems to Microsoft's Dynamics 365. The company claims it cuts migration time by up to half.
Read more: Concentrix launches AI tool to move call centers to Microsoft softwareKalshi is building new contracts so big funds and companies can use prediction markets to protect against losses, not just place bets.
Read more: Kalshi Wants Big Funds to Use Betting Markets as InsuranceSeattle startup firmly raised $15 million to help stores sell through AI shopping assistants without writing code, as AI-driven shopping traffic is expected to jump.
Read more: Startup Firmly Raises $15 Million to Help Stores Sell Through AI Shopping AgentsStartup Aina is taking preorders for a titanium smart ring that lets you say yes or no to AI assistant tasks with a flick, so your phone can stay in your pocket.
Read more: A new smart ring lets you approve your AI assistant's tasks with a tapAI helpers that shop for you may skip the pages where stores show ads, which could hurt a major source of retail income and change how you shop.
Read more: AI shopping helpers could cut into the ads retailers rely onLyft is launching Lyft Go at $9.99 a month, bundling a DoorDash DashPass membership with credits for rides or delivery orders to take on Uber.
Read more: Lyft adds a $9.99 monthly plan that includes a DoorDash membershipShopify reportedly paid about $100 million for Shop.com, a record, as Google sends fewer visitors. Businesses that rely on search clicks should take note.
Read more: Shopify Reportedly Paid $100 Million for Shop.com as Google Clicks ShrinkInc. reports the next wave of startups is forming in college towns, not Silicon Valley, as Gen Z founders skip the usual career path.
Read more: Gen Z is starting more businesses in college towns, not Silicon ValleyDrone delivery startup Zipline raised $1.5 billion at a $21.5 billion value, and Walmart is adding about 300 drone sites, which could change local delivery.
Read more: Drone delivery company Zipline is now valued at $21.5 billionAttackers took the names and emails of all 20,614 users of Norway's aid grant portal, and stolen emails are often used to build convincing scams.
Read more: Hackers steal names and emails of every user of Norway's aid portalIntuit's CEO says AI will help the TurboTax and QuickBooks maker grow, even as some wonder if the 44-year-old company is being disrupted.
Read more: Intuit's CEO explains how the TurboTax maker plans to handle AISeenThis says its new tool lets teams brief an AI chatbot and get editable video ads in under an hour, but access is limited and the speed claim is early.
Read more: SeenThis lets your AI chatbot build video ads for youAttackers are using Microsoft's real sign-in page to take over work accounts. No password is stolen, and one rushed code entry by an employee can be enough.
Read more: Hackers Are Tricking Workers Into Handing Over Office Account AccessAmazon, Microsoft, Alphabet and Meta plan at least $720 billion in AI spending this year, and investors are asking when it will pay off. Your stock holdings may feel it.
Read more: Big Tech plans $720 billion in AI spending this year, with no payoff yetA founder known as a great people manager felt lost planning a team of seven staff and over 20 AI agents. Fast Company offers four ways to lead them.
Read more: A startup plans 7 employees and 20 AI agents. How do you manage that?A new industry report says banks should pick the best payment route for each customer. Business owners may want to ask their bank what it offers.
Read more: Banks want to pick the best way to send each payment for youT-Mobile's new T-Mix Saver plan costs $55 for one line and $100 for two, which is $5 and $20 more than the plan it replaces.
Read more: T-Mobile adds a $55 bare-bones plan to its new T-Mix lineupOpenAI's president says the first half of 2026 was rough, but sales jumped in the third quarter, helped by coding tools and work products.
Read more: OpenAI says a rough first half of 2026 gave way to a sales jumpOpenAI's new image model, Images 2.5, cuts generation time by up to 50% and holds up better when you make repeated edits to the same picture.
Read more: ChatGPT's new image tool is up to 50% faster and edits betterMicrosoft's new Pro Badge for GitHub Copilot is free and has no exam. It scores your skill from how you actually use the tool, which could matter if you hire or get hired.
Read more: Microsoft will now grade your skills by watching how you use GitHubA US agency says hackers are using an Apple flaw fixed in 2024 to steal browser data from devices that never updated.
Read more: Hackers are using an old Apple flaw to steal browser dataPalo Alto Networks is reportedly in talks to buy Israeli startup Clutch Security for about $500 million, a sign of how big security vendors keep growing.
Read more: Palo Alto Networks in talks to buy security startup for $500 million
